By: Felix Ikpotor
A former Senator who represented Rivers East Constituency at the National Assembly during the 4th Republic, John Azuta Mbata has counselled the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, to focus on his ministerial job in Abuja and allow the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara and the state to be in peace.
Mbata, who is also a former ally of the FCT Minister said Wike cannot control Abuja and Rivers State at same time, advising the Minister to focus on the assignment he has been given by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The former lawmaker stated this while performing the foundation laying ceremony of the chairman’s administrative block at the Obio-Akpor Council secretariat in the state.
Mbata said: “He is a minister and also doing well, all we pray for him is to continue doing well and to face his job in Abuja and allow the Governor of Rivers state, Sir Siminalayi Fubara to do his own work.
“We continue to say that we support the government of Sir Siminalayi Fubara and we will be unwavering in that pursuit because we know that life is turn by turn.
“This is the time and opportunity for Sir Siminalayi Fubara to show his capacity to move Rivers state forward.”
He used the occasion to recall his role in installing Wike as the chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government in 1998 against all odds.
“We have been here for a long long time, in 1998, we installed the government of Obio/Akpor local government in the person of Chief Nyesom Ezenwo Wike who is now our illustrious son in Abuja,” he said.
He commended the Council Chairman of Obio/Akpor, Chijioke Ihunwo for his vision, attitude and capacity in the governance of the council.
“I want to salute the vision and the action of the chairman, Ambassador Chijioke Ihunwo, I have also said that any of our leaders who want to do anything should do it, everything you do is an addition because if you don’t do it, that same money may be used for other things which may not be useful,” Mbata added.
In his remarks, the chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, Chijioke Ihunwo promised not to disappoint the people of the LGA who gave him the opportunity to serve.
Ihunwo, assured that he will work day and night to put smiles on the faces of the Obio/Akpor people.
He also saluted Senator Mbata for standing firm by Governor Fubara.
“Under my leadership, Obio/Akpor is safe. I want to also assure our leader and special guest, the true owner of the structure that we will not disappoint the people of Obio Akpor, Distinguished Senator John Mbata, we want to also thank you for standing by our leader, Sir Siminalayi Fubara despite the fact that most of your friends have turned a blind eye to look the other side.
“I am deeply happy that you stood your ground insisting that the right thing be done, that shows that our people are not betrayers”.
“Let me announce here that we embarked on this chairman’s administration building because the current structure is no longer befitting considering that it was built many years ago in 2004, so this is to enhance our work as an administration,” he stated.
The one storey building being constructed by Everfield Construction Company is expected to be commissioned in three months, Ihunwo said.
In his project description, the General Manager of Everfield Construction Company, Harry Enoch, promised to deliver the job in record time, promising to deliver a quality job.
Earlier, the Director of Works, Obio/Akpor local government area, Mrs Belema Bob-Manuel said the stone laying ceremony had ushered in a new dawn in the young administration of the council chairman.
